On Wednesday afternoon, the Senate passed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (H.R. 803) by a vote of 95-3. The overwhelming bipartisan, bicameral support for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) marks monumental progress in Congress to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and improve the nation’s workforce development system.

Expand the definition of out-of-school youth to encompass young people ages 16 to 24 who are not attending school, have dropped out of school, and face extensive barriers to work and to completing their education. In addition, Title I targets 75 percent of youth funds to provide services for out-of-school youth.

Address cumbersome eligibility issues that can make it difficult for local areas to develop comprehensive, cross-system approaches to serve youth who are most in need. Title 1 does so by expanding the definition of low-income individuals to include those who receive or are eligible to receive free or reduced price school lunches and adding an expansive definition for individuals with a barrier to employment. Title I also incorporates a special rule that allows young people living in high-poverty areas to be deemed eligible for services.

Require a minimum percentage of youth funds (20 percent) to support work experiences for low-income and vulnerable young people.

Notwithstanding these important improvements in WIOA, the bill does not include federal incentive grant funding, which has been used during the past decade to spur state and local innovation for adults and youth. The bill specifies definite authorization amounts for youth workforce investment activities, unlike the current Workforce Investment Act which includes “such sums as may be necessary,” a legislative term employed when an appropriation is indefinite. There is a modest increase for youth investment activities through fiscal year 2020; however the caps placed on the appropriations levels could hinder state and local communities from being responsive to the needs of their youth population and implementing comprehensive strategies to ensure success in education and the workforce.

The next step in the reauthorization process is for this bill to go to the House. While the timing of this is unknown, we are hopeful that the bipartisan spirit in which WIOA was crafted will prevail and the House will advance long-overdue legislation to the President, demonstrating a commitment to low-income youth and adult workers.

CLASP will continue to follow the developments of this legislation and will release a detailed analysis of its implications for low-income youth and adults pending its passage in the House.